Third Way Wisdom: For the Good of the City

Romans 13 may be one of the most challenging and misunderstood passages in the New Testament. Right after calling Christians to not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good, Paul turns to the role of governing authorities (what he calls “powers” or “authorities”) in the world. He describes these authorities as those who “bear the sword” and serve as “agents of wrath,” meaning they function to restrain wrongdoing and maintain order. Paul is not offering a full teaching on government or suggesting that authorities always act justly. Instead, in just seven verses, he gives a focused picture: God, who is the ultimate authority, works through both the non-retaliatory witness of the church and the restraining role of governing authorities for the good ordering of society. Where the church is called to overcome evil with good, authorities are tasked with restraining evil. Though distinct in their approaches, both exist under God’s ultimate authority.